Pump jack



Feb. 16, 1943.

J. o. ANDREE Y 2,311,504

PUMP JACK Filed May 14, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

1122 0. flndree Feb. 16, 1943. J. o. ANDREE 2,311,504

PUMP JACK Filed May 14, 1940 3' Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Jahn 0Q .fln dree 1 ATTORNEY.

Feb. 16, 1943.

J. o. ANDREE 2,311,504

PUMP JACK I Filed May 14, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F1515 B5 23 I5 INVENTOR.

JO 0. flndree' Q 1 R. E

ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 16, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PUMP JACK John 0. Andree, Wichita Falls, Tex. Application May 14, 1940, Serial No. 335,134

6 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in pump jacks, such, for instance, as are capable of use in pumping units for the lifting of fluid from deep Wells, and more particularly to the bearings arranged between the different parts of the pump jacks.

Heretofore, many different types of bearings have been proposed and used in pump jacks and the like, but for the most part, these have required lubrication, accurate adjustment, careful machining, housing or shielding to prevent the entrance of foreign matter into the working parts, and special construction that does not lend itself readily for use in pump jacks, nor function satisfactorily for the efiicient operation thereof.

The object of this invention is to overcome these objections by the provision of a rolling hearing in the pump jack, that requires little or no lubrication, that will adjust itself automatically to the most favorable working conditions, that may be used in the open without shielding or enclosure, without danger of its injury or impairment of its efficiency by grit or other foreign matter, and yet is of such simple construction:

that it may be manufactured at low cost and operated economically.

This object of the invention is preferably carried out by the provision of a rolling bearing surface between relatively movable parts of the pump jack, which are also connected for rocking movement by interengagement of teeth or the like, but the rolling bearing surfaces are preferably arranged for engagement substantially on the pitch line of the teeth to receive the pressure or weight exerted by the load on the bearing and to relieve the interengaging parts or teeth of any appreciable weight or pressure that might otherwise cause wearing thereof or necessitate lubrication.

This preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in various forms as applied to different parts of a pump jack, in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a pump jack embodying this invention, with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a rod clamping member detached from the pump jack;

Fig. 4 is a cross section therethrough on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section through the rod on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 and showing the bearing member in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the rocking bearings removed;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of one of the rocking bearings;

Fig. 9 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of one of the beam bearings;

Fig. 11 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of one of the post bearings;

Fig. 13 is a transverse section therethrough on the line I3-l3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a detached perspective view of the locking wedge;

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the base bearing assembly removed and partly in section;

Fig. 16 is a transverse sectional view there through on the line l6l6 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a similar view on the line i'l-I'l of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a top plan view of one of the beam supported bearings; and

Fig. 19 is an end elevation thereof.

The invention is shown as embodied in a pump jack having several bearings between connected parts thereof where rolling motion is provided with the bearings arranged for effective operation of the parts of the pump jack.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the pump jack illustrated is constructed with a base I, formed in the usual manner of spaced parallel side sills having spaced upright supports 2, extending from one end thereof. Braces 3 extend upwardly at an angle from the base I to the supports 2 for bracing the latte and holding them firmly in place.

A walking beam 4 constructed of spaced members, is pivotally supported at one end thereof at 5 on the upright supports 2, while the opposite end of the walking beam 4 is adapted to support the pump rod l4.

A rocking frame is designated generally by the numeral 6 and is of the usual V-form, mounted upon the base I by a rolling bearing designated generally by the numeral 1, said rocking frame 6, extending upwardly beside the upright supports 2 and having its upper end connected with a pull rod 8 through a rolling bearing designated generally by the numeral 9.

At the opposite side of the rocking frame 6 is supported a post [I] connected with the rocking frame 6 by a rolling bearing 1 I, and connected at its upper end with the walking beam 4 by a rolling bearing 12. Adjacent the rolling bearing I2, is a rolling bearing l3 which connects the outer end of the walking beam 4 with the upper end of a pump rod [4.

The several bearings l, 9, H, I2 and i3 are provided in the pump jack for converting the horizontal reciprocating motion of the pull rod 8 into vertical reciprocating motion of the pump rod I 4 for operating the latter. The weight of the pump rod I4 bears upon the outer end of the walking beam 4 and upon the post ID through which the pump rod is supported by the rocking frame 6, normally tending to swing the latter relative to the pull rod 8. When the latter is drawn backward (to the right in Fig. 2) it causes rocking movement of the frame 6 to push upward on the post [0, raising the outer end of the walking beam 4 and lifting the pump rods M with the pump elements connected therewith. The several bearings 1, 9, H, I2 and I3 provide for movement at the connections between these parts to accomplish the desired reciprocating movement of the pump rods.

The several rolling bearings are shown in detail in Figs. 3 to 19. Each of these rolling bearings is constructed with a supporting bearing surface designated a, which is stationary and plane in the bearing 1, but which isbodily moved in the movable bearings 9 and H to l3. In each instance however, the supporting surface afunctions to carry the weight or thrust of the rolling bearing and receives thereon a convex rocking bearing surface I) that is movable and capable of rocking relative to the supporting bearing surface a. On the opposite sides or opposite ends of the coacting bearing surfaces at and b are interfitting portions or teeth and d, of which the teeth 0 are substantially in the form of a rack extending parallel with the plane surface a of the bearing 1, or curved coaxial with a corresponding arcuate surface, while the teeth :1 are preferably arranged on an arc coaxial with the convex surface I). The teeth 0 and dproject. beyond the respective surfaces a and b sufiicient for the line of contact of said surfaces at and b to be disposed substantially on the pitch line of the teeth, so that the teeth themselves are never tightly engaged and do not carry any part of the load of the bearing which is carried entirely by the rolling engaging surfaces at andb. However, the interengagement of the teeth 0 and :1 causes transverse rolling motion between the surfaces a and b upon relative rocking movement of the two members of the bearing. Furthermore, the coacting sides of the teeth are curved so as to produce a rolling motion of one tooth on another. This relation substantiallyeliminates excessive wear between the parts of the bearing, keeps the bearing surfaces clean, and assures a true rolling action in response to the component of force applied to the rocking member of the bearing. The location of the rolling surface appreciably spaced on either side of the pitch line of the teeth would result in excess wear that is substantially eliminated by this arrangement.

The bearing 1 is shown in detail in Figs. 15 to 17, as comprising a base plate l5 seated upon the spaced sill members of the base i, and having slots [6 therein for connection by bolts i! with the sill members to accommodate for base frames of different widths or to provide) for the shifting of the base plate r'elative'to the base I.

4 Seated upon the baselplate i5. is a rocking plate 18, having rolling contact with the base plate l5 by bearing surfaces a and b, as described above and illustrated in Fig. 17. The rocking plate l8 carries a yoke l9 seated thereon and having slots 20 therein through which bolts 2| extend for connecting the yoke l9 with the rocking plate I8 for lateral adjustment of the yoke relative to the rocking plate about a pivot 22 therebetween to an adjusted position shown in dotted lines in Figj15. The. pivot 22 is off center. relative to the yoke permitting reversal of the position of the yoke, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 17, if desired. These adjustments make possible the accommodation of the rolling bearing to different positions of the rocking frame 6, that is bolted or otherwise secured to the opposite sides of the yoke I9.

The pull rods 8 occasionally break or become disconnected and it is desirable to prevent the disassembly of the parts when this occurs, due to the substantial'weight-or pressure of the pump rods 14. Therefore, provision is made for limiting the swinging movement of the rocking plate I8 in one direction, by the provision of lugs 23 on the opposite. ends thereof, as shown in Figs.

15 and 16, beneath overlapped by inturned flanges 24 having stops 25 at the forward side thereof in the path of swinging movement of the lugs 23, whereby downward swinging movement ofvthe rocking frame 6 by the weight of the pump rods I4, will be limited by the engagement-of the lugs 23 with the stops 25 to hold the parts against disassembly as a result thereof.

The rolling bearing 9 is shown in Figs."3 to 7. This bearing has a thrust plate 26 secured at21 to the side of the rocking frame 6 and is provided with a slot 28 therein through which the pull rod 8 extends. The pull rod 8 is secured :to a rocking member 29 by means of a wedge 30 which is shown in detail in Fig. 14.

The wedge 30 is provided with a longitudinal V-shaped groove 3! therein with transverse grooves 32 which form teeth to secure a tight engagement with the rod when the Wedge is inserted in embracing relation therewith, as shown in Fig. 5. The wedge 30-tapers toward one end and is inserted into a square or rectangular opening in the rocking member 29, providing a' firm engagement therewith to hold the rocking member securely in place on the rod.

The rocking member 29 is provided with a roll- .ing bearing surface I) in position to engage the coacting surface a on the thrust member 26 to provide a rolling motion therewith for relative rolling movement of said parts. The thrust member 25 is provided with a second bearing surface a to provide for the adjustment of the strokeof the pump jack by shifting the angle of the rocking frame 6 and the point of connection of the pull rod 8 therewith.

The bearing H is located at the free endiofLth'e rocking frame 6 to support the post l0 thereon. The bearing H is constructed of a supporting thrust member 33, shown in detail in Figs; Sand 9, which member 33 has'a seat 34 resting on a bolt 35 in the rocking frame 6, while an offset portion 36 of the member 33 is provided with'a slot 37 adjustably connected by a bolt 38 with the rocking frame 6, whereby the angle of the supporting thrust member 33, relative to the rocking frame may be varied as desired.

Coacting with the supporting thrust member .33 is a rocking member 39, shown in detail in Figs. 12 and 13 and provided witha shank 40 of longitudinally grooved or ribbed form, removably rceeived within the lower end of the post H3 and bearing against the member 33 for supporting the post thereon. A similar supporting member 4| is mounted at the upper end of the post IE3 and coacts with a rocking member 42, shown in detail in Figs. and 11. The rocking member 42 has a shank 43 provided with a slot 44 therein by means of which it is adjustably connected by a bolt 45 with the walking beam 4 for varying the height and angle of the rocking member 42, relative to the walking beam. The rocking member 42 is provided not only with a rolling bearing surface b but also with a second bearing surface b adapted for alternate bearing engagement with the bearing surface a on the supporting member 4| for adjusting the stroke of the pump jack.

Near the outer end of the walking beam 4 is supported a bracket 45 secured to the walking beam by a bolt 41 and shown in detail in Figs. 18 and 19. The bracket 46 carries thereon a supporting bearing plate 48 of the bearing [3, which bearing plate 48 is adjustable relative to the bracket 46 with interengaged teeth 49 in the opposed surfaces thereof, tending to prevent sliding movement of the parts 46 and 48. Crossed slots 50 are provided in the parts 46 and 48, receivin a bolt 5! therethrough for adjustably securing these parts together for relative movement as indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 18 and 19.

Seated upon the bearing plate 48 is a bearing member 52 similar in construction to the bearing member 29, shown in Figs. 3 to 5, and which bearing member 52 receives the pump rod l4 therein and is secured thereto by a wedge 30' similar in construction to the wedge 30, shown in Fig. 14, for securely supporting the pump rod on the outer end of the walking beam 4, while providing a bearing therefor for relative turning movement.

It will be apparent that the construction of the several bearings has provision not only for providing rolling bearing support for the respective parts of the pump jack, but also for adjustment of these parts to compensate for irregularities in the construction of the pump jack or to fit beams or parts of different sizes, as well as to accommodate for different placement of the pump jack or the parts thereof, as may be necessary for prop er operation.

The bearing I has a plane bearing surface a I and teeth 0 arranged at an angle of approximately 35 to the horizontal, as shown in Fig. 16, so that the component of force of the post l0 and the pull rod 8 applied to the bearing, will apply the line of force in direct rolling engagement with the line of contact on the rocking bearing a-b. By having this bearing surface disposed at an angle of between 35 and 40 to the horizontal the thrust strain on the teeth is substantially eliminated and the teeth are utilized merely to prevent relative slippage between the two bearing surfaces.

I claim:

1. In a pump jack, the combination of a base, a walking beam pivotally supported on the base, a rocking frame having a bearing support on the base, an upstanding post interposed between the rocking frame and the walking beam and having bearing supports therebetween, a pull rod bearing support connected with said rocking frame, a pump rod bearing support on the free end of the walking beam, each of said bearing supports having coacting engaged bearing surfaces mounted for rolling movement relative to each other, interengaged means for preventing sliding movement of one of said surfaces relative to the other, and means converging longitudinally of the pull rod and pump rod for wedgingly securing the pull rod and pump rod with the respective bearing supports.

2. In a pump jack, the combination of a base, a walking beam pivotally mounted on the base and adapted for connection with a pump rod, a rocking frame having a bearing support on the base and connected with the walking beam causing swinging movement thereof, said bearing support having relatively movable part-s connected together for swinging movement of one of said parts on the other, the swinging part having an upstanding lug and said other part having an inturned flange overlapping said lug for limiting the relative separation of said parts.

3. In a pump jack, the combination of a base, a rocking frame, a bearing structure supporting said rocking frame on the base, said bearing structure including a supporting member mounted on the base, a supported member mounted on the supporting member for swinging movement relative thereto, and a member extending transversely of said supported member and mounting the rocking frame thereon, said transverse member having a pinned connection with the supported member offset lengthwise of the transverse member for reversal of said transverse member relative thereto.

4. In a pump jack, the combination of a base, a walking beam pivotally mounted on the base and adapted for connection with a pump rod, a rocking frame having a bearing support on the base and connected with the walking beam causing swinging movement thereof, said bearing support having relatively movable parts, rod bearing means at the free end of the walking beam, and means mounting said rod bearing means on the walking beam for adjustment thereof longitudinally and transversely relative to the walking beam.

5. In a pump jack having relatively movable members, a rolling bearing operatively connecting said members together and comprising coacting bearing parts having opposed non-parallel bearing surfaces arranged in abutting relation with each other, at least one of said bearing surfaces being arranged on an arc of a circle for rolling movement relative to the coacting bearing surface, and means forming interfitting engagement between said parts on a line extending in a curved direction to opposite sides of the arc of curvature of said bearing surface transversely of said are and substantially to equal distances on opposite sides thereof.

6. In a pump jack having relatively movable members, a rolling bearing operatively connecting said members together and comprising coacting bearing parts having opposed non-parallel bearing surfaces arranged in abutting relation with each other, at least one of said bearing surfaces being arranged on an arc of a circle for rolling movement relative to the coacting bearing surface, and interfitted teeth connected with the bearing parts and having curved opposite sides on the outer portions thereof extending substantially to equal distances on opposite sides of the arc of curvature of the arcuate bearing surface When said teeth are in engaged position to prevent relative sliding movement of the bearing surfaces while providing for relative rolling action thereof.

' JOHN D. ANDREE. 

